soaphouse's Blog
soaphouse's posts about: corn
Aug 4, 2008 | 3:25 PM PST
Tags: veggies , corn , companion planting , flower seeds
Well, most of our summer trips and parties have past and I was able to spend some much overdue time in the garden this weekend! I so enjoyed it, despite the heat. Because of the lack of recent attention, some extreme measures needed to be taken, so I spent most of my time using loud and aggressive power tools.
I first started out to mow the back by the veggies, but it was so long that the mower just wasn't holding up its end of the bargain...so after a few adjustment by my helpful hubby, I got to mowing...just in time to be chased indoors by a ginormous thunder storm. So, the next day it was back to it and i got most of the back yard done when the mower quit again, so I opted to do some weedeating. After 3 tanks of gas, I had done the entire creek area, around all the veggie beds, edged the lawn and cut the front yard using the weedeater (since I still couldn't get the mower started.) Somehow EVERYTHING gets harder when you go from one child to two HAH!
While I was back by the creek I did some more investigating as to why there is still no growth from the great gunnera....the bulb was as mushy as can be, so I called the company and they issued me a credit. so, i just have to decide if i am going to try another gunnera or something else...
Then, hubby came home, got the lawnmower fixed, and finished up the back yard for me :)
The other thing i worked on this weekend was some veggie bed clean up. We harvested some corn and had some for dinner, but it was not the least bit tasty....I don't know if maybe I left it on the stalk to long, and what was left was so buggy, so I just pulled the remainder of it out and took it to the curb for yard pickup. I don't think i will do corn again...
I also pulled out the spent bush bean plants and okra. This left a lot of room to add more compost and get ready for fall plantings...HOORAY!
The veggie garden has taught me quite a bit this year. I tried my hand at companion planting this season and have been very pleased for the most part. i do think that next year i will plant a smaller variety of things, but more of each thing that i plant.
I have also learned what i don't want to grow again:
corn-takes too much space and is a bit messy and buggy, plus i can buy it pretty cheap at the store
carrots-hubby doesn't like them and i never seem to get them thinned out quite right
okra- i have trouble picking them before they get tough
broccoli-i just never have luck with this :(
Here is what i am for sure going to grow lots of:
Cherry tomatoes
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Asian eggplants
Beans
Zuchinni
Squash
And, here is what i want to try that i didn't this year:
garlic, onions and artichokes
I will continue with the companion planting focusing on the use of marigolds, sunflowers, and nastursuims. these are what seemed to germinate and perform the best. I really had trouble getting a lot of my flower seeds to germinate this year. it is so hard to keep them evenly moist when you have watering restrictions. The whole bed I had planned around the back porch was a total flop. nothing germinated :(. I was going to have 3 kinds of sunflowers, bells of ireland, sweet pea vines and sweet alyssum. But, nothing....oh well, thats the best way to learn as a gardener :) Trial and error...sometimes LOTS of error LOL!
Jul 6, 2008 | 7:22 PM PST
Tags: harvest , corn , rain , hydrangea , carrrot
We had a great summer rain this afternoon! The garden was in desperate need...it even hailed a bit. But, luckily not enough to do damage to the plants. For the most part, things are just truckin right along in the garden. Most things are even holding up to the dry weather. I am having a hard time keeping enough water on my hydrangeas though. I am thinking I may install a soaker hose around that bed this fall, to help with watering next season...
Here are a couple of shots of the afternoon rain as seen from my front porch:
We have also been enjoying a very bountiful harvest from the veggie garden. Today was no exception!
Here
is a pict of the harvest bowl...
This was our first harvest of corn! I have never grown corn before and its fun that its turning out! Also, this is my third season to attempt carrots and my first season to get anything! Could it be that the companion planting is working????!!!!
Here is the bounty all clean and ready for munchin and cookin:
So rewarding!
I am already starting to think about how I can improve my plantings for next year and I am getting excited about doing a big fall veggie garden...I can't wait!
Jun 27, 2008 | 8:02 AM PST
Tags: butterfly bush , coreopsis , moonbeam , veggies , broccoli , marigold , corn , sphagetti squash , spaghetti squash , bean , Daylies
Well, things keep moving right along here in the garden...with or without my help - :) It has been very hot here with not a lot of rain fall - but luckily we are allowed to water at certain times...so I have been keeping up with that. I am still enjoying the results of all my hard work over the fall and winter (with things being somewhat more low maintenance) I have decided that that is definitely the way to go!
During a good session in the garden the other afternoon, I was able to capture these picts:
Butterfl
y bush is looking great!
Daylilies doing their thing:
Looking
forward to my canna blooms!
Northe
rn Mountain Oats that I ordered on line last year are doing well and I look forward to them naturalizing a bit:
Oak Leaf Blooms turning pink:
p>We have really started to enjoy more abundance from the veggie gardens as well! We have daily picking adventures and eat something from the garden just about every day!
Here is a view of the veggies from the back of the back yard:
I just love the shot of color that the marigold give...makes a great view from the kitchen window:
Althou
gh, I did have to pull out all the broccolli due to that yucky wormy thing they got...just like last year! I guess I am just not cut out for broccolli growing :(
The corn is doing its thing:
But, has some yuck on it! This is my first time to grow corn, so I am not sure what to do about this or if it will effect production:
I am loving the purple pole beans! They are SO pretty and yummy too!
And, the spaghetti squash is jumping out of its bed!
Here is a good shot as you come around to the front yard:
p>Things are doing well there, too...I am loving the moonbeam coreopsis and have decided that I want to add more of this to the front perrenial garden:
>
The turks cap lilies are just starting to bloom. I can always count on these guys!
Getting ready for my hibiscus blooms!
>
The little knockouts that i planted at the base of the sculpture are blooming and i know they will fill in nicely!:
Here is the view as of late as i sit on my front porch:
And finally...the view of the front yard from across the street:
Can you tell most of what i have planted along the street was to block off the view of the rental house across the street from us - HAH! Guess its working :)
